Today on Celebrate the Bible: The New York World’s fairs were held in both 1939 and 1964. Each time the fair took place, a time capsule was lowered 50 feet into the ground. These time capsules were built by the Westinghouse Electric company. They contained many of the latest and greatest objects of their respective times.
For both time capsules, copies of the Christian Holy Bible were included.
Let us examine the official list of items for the 1939 World’s Fair capsule. This list was printed by the Westinghouse company itself.
Looking at their publication, we have the following:
Section III.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS:
Seeds, books, money, type, special texts, etc.
and listed below this, under the sub-heading of books we have…
“Selected, leather-bound, rag-paper copy, of the Holy Bible”
It’s interesting to note that there was only one other physical book besides the Bible. This book was listed as: “The Book of Record of the Time Capsule”.
The list of included items states in parenthesis: (All other books, reports, etc. reduced to microfilm). So any other book listed as being in the 1939 time capsule was stored on microfilm.
The main photo in this post is an official news release. It shows some of the contents of the 1964 time capsule. This news photo is in my American Bible History collection.
If you are listening to this as a podcast; and would like to see the photos; please go to celebratethebible250.com
In this photo, one can get a good sense of what items were placed into the capsule. Though, take special note, once again, of the inclusion of the Christian Holy Bible.
This bible is noted as the The Revised Standard Version. It is said to trace its roots back to William Tyndale’s New Testament translation of 1525.
Other interesting items shown in the photograph include a 45 RPM phonograph record of the Beatles’ A Hard Days Night. There is also a transistor radio. You can see a ball point pen as well as an electric toothbrush.
We also have a ruby laser rod and a Polaroid instant camera. There are credit cards and contact lenses. We also have a 50 star flag. Additionally, there is microfilm of all of the telephone books shown in the photo.
The 1939 and 1964 time capsules are still located at Flushing Meadows, New York. They are set to be brought back to the surface 5000 years after their respective dates of entry. At that time, they will be re-opened.
So, until me meet again, and for “Celebrate the Bible 250” this is Frank Douglas. If you’re interested in learning more about the History of the Christian Holy Bible in America, please subscribe now.
America 250 Semiquincentennial Bible Celebration 